Over 3000 pageviews! YES!
First off, I feel I owe a huge thanks to all my reviewers and readers. I am extremely pleased with the number of comments I have received from lurkers in the past two chapters! Thanks so much for the reviews you guys! If you leave a review that's not anonymous, I usually respond, as you may have noticed.
I owe a huge thanks to these steady reviewers in particular:
Indiana Beach Bum – you left your first review about halfway through the story so far, and you always have such flattering things to say, it makes me feel so happy to know that people are really enjoying this story. Thanks for the support!
Coffeey – you wrote a review to basically every chapter, and you were the only one to enter my contest, and for that reason I strongly believe you kick butt!
Lilchicky04 – you always wrote the cutest little reviews! Thanks!
Special thanks also goes to Darkrealmist, Soon to be World Dominator, star-princess-xo, MrPointyHorns, Shuggie, Inusgrl90, and, oh fuck it! I can't name you all! If you ever wrote a review for me, thanks!
So, we're over halfway through at this point, and let me tell you, this chapter is going to be BIG for action and events and the like. I won't tell you too much here – you have to read to find out ;) . I can also safely tell you there will likely be a sequel to this coming out, entitled Overcoming Obstacles, or something of that sort. We shall see.
This chapter is entitled Christmas Day because, well it's Christmas Day. And who knows what may happen under the spirit of giving? This, I think, is a chapter that people have been waiting for since the beginning, so now I give to you, without hesitation, Chapter 11!
P.s. the contest is off. No one's interested so yeah. Oh, and sorry this chapter is a little angsty.
----
Chapter 11 – Christmas Day – SKPOV (Stan's, then Kyle's)
So this is Christmas.
I sigh as I stare out my bedroom window into the black night. My watch reads a bit past 1 am, enough to officially declare it Christmas Day. However, I'm not feeling particularly Christ-massy at the moment. Or in the past week. All of my thoughts have been consumed by my best friend. And, more recently, by memories of us shopping in North Park, which was quite possibly, one of the worst days of my life.
No, it wasn't bad enough that I totally forgot about our annual shopping trip. It wasn't bad enough that I leaned my hand against his chest in the car, making him freak out for the rest of the day. Or that I had to fall and hurt him, again. Or that he had to escort me to the bathrooms, and I nearly puked all over him. Or that I had to totally freak out at him over his stupid sexy eyebrow raise thing. Or EVEN that a bunch of stupid grade 9 skanks saw right through me.
What was bad enough was that I made it so blatantly obvious that I like him.
There was abso-fucking-lutely no way he could not know how I feel about him right now. And that scared me beyond all belief. The last thing I wanted was to alienate my best friend over some stupid little crush. Only I didn't thing it was stupid, and I definitely didn't think it was little. But that's besides the point. I'd rather have Kyle in my life as only a friend than not have Kyle in it at all. So I've done the only thing I could think to do the past two days – give Kyle his space for a while, and immerse myself in Christmas decorating in an attempt to forget about him.
It didn't work though. It seemed Kyle now occupied every cavity in my brain, my thoughts constantly taunting me with the person that would never be mine.
I hope that giving Kyle space for the past two days had made him forget about the awkwardness of that day. Even two days without him seems like ages though, which makes me even more worried. How am I supposed to fare next term in university if I can't even go without seeing him for two days now?
I can't say that I don't feel bad about avoiding him. Kyle always has a bit of a tendency to get a little depressed in the few days leading up to Christmas, and while it's become much less severe since his childhood days, I always made sure to at least pay him a visit on Christmas, to cheer him up. I had no intention, crush or no crush, of breaking that tradition anytime soon. Besides, breaking it now would make it even more apparent that I feel awkward around him now, wouldn't it?
I had my mind made up. Visit to Kyle tomorrow. After presents and family together-ness and all that holiday crap. Probably around mid-afternoon.
I continued staring out my window, watching all the snowflakes dance by my window. I saw two stuck together, and I was struck with a pang of jealousy.
Man. You know you're pathetic when you're jealous of snowflakes.
---
Dude.
…
I think I just broke up with Mandy.
I stare blankly at the screen in front me, watching her icon go from online to offline.
I hadn't even intended to talk to her, really. Which was actually part of the problem now that I think about it. I had come online solely for the purpose of seeing if Kyle was online, and therefore home, so I could go over and visit him. He wasn't. Online, that is. I wonder where he is…
I'm getting off subject. As I was saying I had come online to see if Kyle was on, and he wasn't. Instead, Mandy was, and was she ever pissed off at me.
Flashback (A/N: Why? Because I can.)
Marsh – (Merry Xmas) has signed on
Mandy – Goddamnit Stan : says:
Where the FUCK have you been?
Marsh – (Merry Xmas) says:
Woah, what's this, no Merry Christmas?
Mandy – Goddamnit Stan : says:
Fuck Merry Christmas. I want to know why the fuck you've been ignoring me for the past three days!
Marsh – (Merry Xmas) says:
I haven't been ignoring you. I've been getting ready for Christmas.
This much was true.
Mandy – Goddamnit Stan : says:
Like fuck you have!
Wow. I think Mandy has a new favourite word.
Marsh – (Merry Xmas) says:
No, I really have. I've been holiday shopping and hanging out with my family.
Mandy – Goddamnit Stan : says:
Holiday shopping? Since when do you call it that? You've always called it Christmas shopping!
This is officially the most pathetic fight we've ever had.
Marsh – (Merry Xmas) says:
Why does it even matter?
Mandy – Goddamnit Stan : says:
You've been going to more parties, haven't you?
Marsh – (Merry Xmas) says:
8-) Uh, no I haven't. There haven't been any.
Mandy – Goddamnit Stan : says:
Bullshit.
Grrrrr.
Marsh – (Merry Xmas) says:
You know what Mandy? I'm getting pretty sick and tired of this shit. I know your last boyfriend cheated on you, and I'm sorry about that, okay? But honestly, get over it! What the hell have I ever done to make you not trust me!
Mandy – Goddamnit Stan : says:
Oh, nothing, only the fact that you've been sneaking around with random girls from your high school!
If I were her I wouldn't be worried about the girls.
Marsh – (Merry Xmas) says:
What the fuck are you talking about? No I haven't!
Mandy – Goddamnit Stan : says:
Yes you have! You told me about all those girls at that party!
Marsh – (Merry Xmas) says:
WHAT? All I did was give you a few random names of people that were at the party. Goddamnit Mandy, I am allowed to have friends that are girls, you know! I don't go around fucking every girl I know!
Mandy – Goddamnit Stan : says:
How the hell should I know that you don't?
Marsh – (Merry Xmas) says:
HOLY SHIT! ARE YOU LIKE RETARDED OR SOMETHING? I AM SO FUCKING SICK OF THIS! I HAVE NEVER DONE ANYTHING TO MAKE YOU NOT TRUST ME, SO GIVE ME A FUCKING BREAK, WILL YOU? YOU ARE SUCH A FUCKING NUTJOB!
Mandy – Goddamnit Stan : says:
Oh, so I'm CRAZY NOW AM I?
Marsh – (Merry Xmas) says:
I really wonder.
Mandy – Goddamnit Stan : says:
Fuck you! Your bf isn't supposed to think that of you.
Marsh – (Merry Xmas) says:
Well maybe if you stopped acting this way, it might help, huh?
Mandy – Goddamnit Stan : says:
Acting this way? Wtf I'm just being myself!
Marsh – (Merry Xmas) says:
No. You're not. When I first met you you were cute, and sweet. Now you're jealous and mental. I can't figure out why you went like this all of a sudden!
Mandy – Goddamnit Stan : says:
Because you act like you want someone else!
I felt my blood practically freeze over.
Marsh – (Merry Xmas) says:
What are you talking about?
Mandy – Goddamnit Stan : says:
When we were first together, you were constantly trying to like charm me and stuff. Now that's gone, and we barely even talk. All we basically do now is make out. Like you want to pretend I'm someone else or something.
Marsh – (Merry Xmas) says:
Bullshit.
Mandy – Goddamnit Stan : says:
And you're constantly talking about your friends from South Park. Especially that one boy, Kyle. Kyle Kyle Kyle. Hey guess what Kyle's doing at Harvard? Well that's great sweetie, but did you know Kyle did this?
Holy fucking shit.
Mandy – Goddamnit Stan : says:
It's almost as if you like him.
No way. I shake my head in disbelief.
Mandy – Goddamnit Stan : says:
Huh. Is that it Stan? You're in love with your best friend?
I can't believe even my girlfriend knows.
Mandy – Goddamnit Stan : says:
Turning gay on me now are you?
Hey! I'm not gay! Maybe just bi!
Mandy – Goddamnit Stan : says:
I bet you're swooning over there, you sick fucker.
Okay, now I'm pissed.
Marsh – (Merry Xmas) says:
Fuck you Mandy! You bitch!
Mandy – Goddamnit Stan : says:
Oh hoh, hit a weak spot did I?
Marsh – (Merry Xmas) says:
You have no fucking right to say those things! You self righteous bitch I hope you burn!
Maybe a little extreme.
Mandy – Goddamnit Stan : says:
Fuck you Stan! I hate you!
Marsh – (Merry Xmas) says:
GOOD! Because we're through! I don't date prima donnas!
Mandy – Goddamnit Stan : says:
You're breaking up with me?
Marsh – (Merry Xmas) says:
Yeah. Buhbye now.
Mandy – Goddamnit Stan : says:
Fine! Go fuck your gay little boyfriend, asshole!
Mandy – Goddamnit Stan has signed off
So now I'm sitting here, getting even more pissed off than before. Kyle was right about her. I should have left her ages ago.
I jump onto my bed and start to beat the crap out of my pillow. It expends a lot of energy, and I lie back on my bed, fuming at the walls of my room.
---
I open my eyes. Crap. I must have fallen asleep.
I check my clock. Huh. It's a little past 4.
I remember Mandy, and get angry for a moment before I force myself to let it go. I mean, I'm done with her now. I don't have to worry about all the drama she stirs up anymore.
Go fuck your gay little boyfriend, asshole…
Shit. I totally forgot about Kyle. Which is weird, because he's all I've been thinking about lately. I figure I should go over to his house now – it's late afternoon now, and I was planning on going earlier than that. Come on. Breaking up with my girlfriend shouldn't affect my ability to remember about helping a friend in his time of need. Especially when you like that friend in a certain way that friends should not normally be liked.
I clamber out of bed, and hope that Kyle's isn't too depressed.
Well at least I'd get to comfort him.
Dude. That is fucked up.
---
Kyle's POV
I stared at the ceiling, making shapes out of all the dots.
I see an airplane.
I see a book on quantum physics.
I see Stan.
I see another Stan.
Oh! And look over there! It's Stan!
Which pretty much summarizes my life right now.
Wow. This is both depressing and pathetic.
I've kind of been in a weird funk all day. Maybe it's because it's Christmas. That always used to get me when I was younger. Not so much anymore. I think this time it has more to do with the fact that I'm hopelessly into my best friend, and have been depriving myself of him for the past two days.
I roll over on my bed, staring at the minutes pass by on the clock. 4:06, 4:07, 4:08…
After reaching 4:26, I get tired of this game and roll onto my back.
I've pretty much been lying on my bed for the last three hours, contemplating the uselessness of all existence, and how ridiculous the utmost depth of human emotion is. I close my eyes, and immerse myself in thought.
"Kyle?" I hear a voice. My bedroom door opens.
One step.
Two.
Someone's here.
"You awake?"
It's Stan.
IT'S STAN!
I sit bolt upright and swivel my legs to the edge of my bed. I immediately feel the blood rush to my head, and stars burst in front on my eyes. I swoon slightly, moaning a small curse at myself.
Stan apparently takes this as a gesture to be concerned about, because all of a sudden, he is right in front of me on his knees. He takes me by the shoulders, sending a jolt of electricity through my whole body.
"Kyle, are you okay?"
I nod, but my head is still swimming, so I rest my head on his shoulder. I breathe in his scent, enjoying every moment of it, not caring if it's freaking him out. I think maybe my brain finally broke.
Stan takes this as something to be even more concerned about, because he shifts one of his arms to my back, and then the other. My head stays on his shoulder, and I can feel the closeness of our bodies. It's the most amazing feeling in the world.
"Kyle?" he says my name softly. I say nothing, not wanting to spoil this moment. I shudder slightly from his touch, which apparently worries him more. He must think I'm upset about something or other, but nothing could be further from the truth. I was in a dazed, happy state right now, finding myself unable to even speak the smallest words.
"Dude, it's okay," he tries to reassure me for some reason. I bury my face further into his shoulder and neck, shamelessly enjoying every moment of it.
Stan's concern takes a turn for the better, because he pulls me slowly off the bed in order to be closer to him. I slip off the bed and land on him so that I'm straddling his thighs. He wraps his arms around me tighter.
Forget about dazed. I'm in heaven.
Wait. I'm being selfish here. Maybe HE'S really upset about something, like maybe him and his girlfriend fought again or something lame like that. I wrap my arms loosely around his waist, in an attempt to comfort him should the need arise.
We stay like that for a really long time. Like, at least a good ten minutes. Stan is rocking us both slightly back and forth, and my God, if I died right now I would die a happy person. I hold him tighter.
…wait. Did he just kiss my neck?
He had to have. How else could I explain that sudden warm sensation?
Dude. He couldn't… like me too, could he?
No way.
Regardless, I decided to test the waters. I slowly bring my head up, pressing our cheeks together. This gives me the urge to squirm in delight, but I resist the temptation. He responds by moving one of his hands up from my back to into my hair.
…I wonder.
I take this test one step further and bring my head fully up so our foreheads are resting against each other's. I am looking into his blue eyes, and see him looking back at me. Something's changed about them though. They are filled with an emotion of some sort that I'm not entirely able to decipher.
He runs his hands through my hair, never once breaking our eye contact. It is at this moment that I realize that just maybe Stan does, in fact, like me. I smile a little at him, and he smiles back.
I am just about to say something when he suddenly leans forward and kisses me, taking me off guard. It is deep and powerful, and I find I am swept under.
Dude. I'm getting kissed.
By a dude.
Stan, in fact.
Stan my best friend is kissing me.
…
HOLY SHIT! STAN IS KISSING ME!
HURRY! KISS HIM BACK! QUICK!
But after I manage to figure out what I SHOULD be doing at the moment, a good five seconds have passed, and Stan breaks the kiss, face quickly turning red from humiliation. He looks like he wants the Earth to swallow him whole.
Shit.
He lets go of me quickly.
"Shit… dude…I am so, SO sorry…" he searches for words. He stands up and backs slowly towards my bedroom door.
"I'll… see you around… alright?" he mutters, leaving my room.
One second…
Two…
Dude! No way are you escaping that easily! I get up to go after him.
"Stan!" I call out from the top of the stairs. He's at the bottom of them, seeming to have no intention of stopping to talk to me.
So I do the stupidest thing I could do at this moment.
I go down one stair, then two, then three, then I take a flying leap.
"Wait!" I holler at him. He stops to turn around, confused.
In a split second, I realize that I'm going to crash into him, and when I do, his head will smash against the wall behind him, quite possibly doing some serious damage there. So the second I reach him, I wrap my hands behind his head to shield it.
His back and my hands hit the wall with a resounding crash, and I hear a sickening crack as I feel a jolt of pain go up my left arm.
Shit. Nice going on my part.
"Jesus Christ! What the hell are you doing?" Stan looks at me like I'm insane. Maybe I am.
Before I have a chance to respond, my mother comes rushing into the room.
"What was that crash?" she asks before her eyes settle on mine and Stan's crumpled position. Hey eyes widen.
"Kyle, buhbie, are you all right? What happened?"
I carefully detach myself from Stan, taking care to hide my left arm. I didn't want to look at it quite yet. I quickly checked Stan over. He appeared to be okay, although confused. There was a tiny dent in the wall where my hands hit it.
"It's nothing ma, I just fell down the stairs. Don't worry, I'm fine," I assured her. He rolled her eyes, muttering 'boys', before returning to the kitchen.
"Shit, dude, what the hell were you doing?" he asks me again.
"Well, I had to stop you SOMEHOW," I snapped back, all of a sudden angry with him. I raise my left hand to inspect it, and wince.
My middle and pinkie fingers are both bent at really odd angles, and I can see my knuckles starting to swell up. I touch my fingers gingerly, causing me to yelp slightly. I try to lay my hand as delicately as possibly on my leg.
Stan notices the condition of my hand, and his eyes widen.
"Holy shit dude!" he exclaims.
"Yeah…I think I might have to go to the hospital," I say calmly, thoroughly fascinated by the angles at which my fingers are bent at.
Pinkie: approx. 43 degrees.
Middle: approx. 115 degrees.
I raise my hand as if holding it to a light, turning it and inspecting it.
Huh.
"Can you drive me to the hospital?" I ask Stan.
"I don't have a car," Stan points out blatantly.
"So? You can drive Blitzkrieg."
Stan looks like he's about to have a seizure. "What? Since when do you let anyone other than yourself drive your car?"
"Well I figure it safer than me driving at this point," I point out logically. "Plus I trust you Stan." I smile at him, trying to make him feel better about earlier, but he looks down at his feet, avoiding my gaze.
I feel a wave of awkwardness pass over us. Shit. Why the hell did I have to freeze up?
I'll make this better. Soon. As soon as I get my hand fixed. I'm too consumed by the fascination and pain right now.
"So, shall we?" I ask him, flashing him my most genuine smile.
My smile fades as he gets up without looking at me. "Sure. Whatever. Let's go."
It's about a ten minute drive to the hospital (small town, I know), but it feels like we've been in the car for hours. Stan has neither said anything nor glanced at me. I can't tell whether he's angry with me, or just really embarrassed. Maybe both.
The clock ticks from 4:59 to 5:00.
Fuck this. I can't take it anymore. The tension is killing me.
"Pull over," I mutter to Stan. He cocks his head slightly.
"What?"
"Pull over!"
"Why?"
"Just do it!" I say, a slightly hysterical edge on my voice. Stan raises his eyebrow, but he obliges. He still hasn't looked at me.
We stay on the side of the road, silence engulfing us while I gather myself.
I never would have thought this could happen.
I take a deep breath. "I owe you an apology."
Stan does a double-take. "Wait! What? What for?"
"I shouldn't have freaked out like that back there. You just – took me by surprise."
Stan looks confused. "What? I was the one that freaked out."
"You did because I did."
Stan goes deep red, and he gets that I-want-to-die-right-now look back on his face. "Well, I guess it's kind of how I expected you to react… I mean, dude. I know you don't feel like … that, and I should have never done anything."
I shake my head. "No. I'm glad you did."
Stan looks confused.
"Do you like me?" I suddenly blurt out. I can feel my own face start to change shades. "Or were you just screwing around, like the night of the party?"
Pause.
"Please don't hate me Kyle," he says, giving me an apologetic look.
That's all I needed. I unbuckle my seatbelt and turn to face Stan.
"What are you doing?"
I smirk evilly at him.
"Dude-" he starts to say, but he is cut off when I lunge towards him. I plant my lips firmly on his, while my right hand smacks the cold window, then curls around his neck. My left arm is hanging over his seat, safe from harm.
I feel Stan stiffen in shock then quickly loosen up. He kisses me back, and I feel a surge of emotions course through my whole body. Parts of my body experiences sensations it has never felt before. It was like being reawakened after a long slumber.
Stan leans more into me, giving him the height advantage seeing as how I am draped across the car. I feel his foot step off the brake, and the car starts to move. Stan breaks the kiss for a moment to shift gears.
"Dude, you didn't put my car in park?" I say, and I start to laugh, but it is cut short when I feel Stan's lips on mine once more. He wraps his arms around me, and I wrap mine around his neck, completely forgetting about my damaged hand. He leans into me, and I feel myself start to fall back. My neck and head are pushed up against the window. I gasp at the sudden coldness on my neck, and Stan takes this opportunity to slip his tongue into my mouth. He rakes it along the roof of my mouth, and I let out of moan of pure delight.
My hands are shaking as I move them along his back. I don't know what to do with them. I never knew anything could feel as amazing as this. I think my heart has stopped beating, and my brain has shut down. The only thing I have to go on is the motion of his body.
We keep at it for another few minutes, until I accidentally whack my left hand against the seat and I let out a yelp of pain. We both realize how incredibly awkward and uncomfortable it is to kiss in the front seat of a car. So we stop, and continue our drive to the hospital. I realize that I have an immensely stupid grin on my face, and I find I cannot make it go away. I look over at Stan, who is smiling in a very similar manner.
We get to the hospital after another few minutes, and I get accepted almost immediately. Turns out I'm one of the only people in South Park stupid enough to get hurt on Christmas.
Stan comes with me into the doctor's office. We take xrays, and the doctor tells me that I have two broken fingers (no really?) and a cracked knuckle. He puts my fingers in splints, and wraps my hand. I pretend to wince most of the time so Stan will hold my hand, and I think he knows this.
As we drive back to my place, I have another thought on my mind though. One that worries me.
"Stan-?" I say uncertainly.
He looks at me and smiles. "Yeah?"
I smile back, a little nervously. "If my mom finds out-"
Stan interrupts me. "No one has to know – yet," he assures me as he smiles knowingly. He boldly pecks me on the cheek.
That's all I needed to know.
---
Bet you're all really happy about this one eh?
So hurry and review! It'll make me feel special!